Evaluation
Our Get Into Reading project is subject to evaluation to ensure that it delivers in the areas it promises to. We want to maintain the quality of our groups, and improve them even further, so that people can get the most out of the shared reading experience.
Get Into Reading can have profound positive effects on many aspects of group members’ personal and social wellbeing. In these groups we have found that reading great literature stimulates acute emotional responses and that the voluntary, relaxed approach to groups contributes not only to enjoyment but to enabling the emergence of strong personal connections between members.
Our own internal evaluation of Get Into Reading groups has had some amazing results:
Some published evaluation reports from external organisations on the impact of Get Into Reading can be downloaded below. See our Research page for information about current research projects investigating why our work is having such an impact.
evaluation reports
Get Into Reading Wigan: Final Report
Social Prescribing Arts Programme and Working Neighbourhood Fund
May 2012
The final report into a two year project to develop a collaborative Get Into Reading Project with Wigan Council providing personal functioning benefits for unemployed individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, mental health problems, with the aim of reducing unemployment. Overall, The Reader Organisation engaged with 493 individuals , of which 144 people entered training, volunteering, or employment. The evaluation results demonstrate that the project has continued to have an increasingly positive impact on the quality of life of individuals involved.
Get Into Reading Pilot Project Evaluation
September 2011
‘I never realised you could use reading in this way. I used to read aloud to some residents when they were ill, but it would be just me doing the reading and them listening. But now I realise I can use reading as a way to encourage residents to interact with one another.’ Bupa Staff Member, St Nicholas Care Home
Evaluation of Mersey Care Reader-in-Residence Project
Service User Research and Evaluation, Mersey Care NHS Trust, 2008 (see pp. 70-2 for summary of findings)
‘The discussion of themes raised in the various texts has included such topics as: relationships, loss, loneliness, current affairs, family, the nature of love, and bringing something good out of negative and painful experiences. In these discussions, the members have shown great human experience, insight and wisdom, as well as deep concern and support for each other. The service users show great respect and attention when a member is speaking of something painful or deeply personal. At other times, and quite appropriately, the members enjoy humour in their discussions. The Reader or volunteer elicit the opinions of less forthcoming service users; these are met with respectful listening by the more vocal. The benefits of these discussions to the group members are encapsulated by one woman’s comment: “Doctors and stuff aren’t always what you need. Other people can help too”.’ (p.54)